DEMOLITION bosses have warned people to stay away from the destruction of Didcot power station cooling towers, saying people could end up covered in dust.

At the same time, however, talks are under way to provide official viewing areas for people to watch the blast.

The 325ft towers will be blown up during the early hours of Sunday, July 27.

Energy firm RWE npower says the towers –the first three of six to be demolished – will come down between 3am and 5am and so far has refused to switch the time to 6am, despite a campaign from residents and a letter from MP Ed Vaizey.

Demolition firm Coleman and Company will livestream the Didcot A towers being blasted. Mark Coleman, managing director, said it was industry best practice not to make “an event” out of a high-explosive demolition, due to uncertainty regarding the fall-out of dust and debris.

Mr Coleman said: “The British standard for demolition is clear and tells us we should never encourage people to come to a demolition event and we should do whatever we can to discourage people from coming.”

RWE npower spokesman Kelly Brown said: “There could be dust associated with the demolition and it’s weather-dependent on where it settles. But we know people will find their own locations to watch.”

Guy Esnouf, RWE npower’s director of communications, added that the Health and Safety Executive, Thames Valley Police and Network Rail had advised that the early morning time was the right time for the demolition.

He added: “We have 180kg of high explosive – that is an awful lot. Safety has to come first.”

Vale of White Horse District Council leader Matthew Barber said the council is talking to the Earth Trust, which runs beauty spot Wittenham Clumps, about creating an official viewing area there.

Taylor Wimpey has already agreed to provide a veiwing area on Great Western Park, off the A4130, where there is also a good view of the towers.

Tim Betts, managing director of Taylor Wimpey Oxfordshire, said those planning to come would need to park off-site and walk as roads will be closed to all except residents.

Mr Barber said: “It’s disappointing that npower has taken this stance.

“The demolition is taking place on private land, but people are very interested in it because the towers have dominated the skyline for more than 40 years.”

She added: “We could open our festival field as a car park, but we would need a stewarding company to manage the event, and we would have to provide some portable toilets so we would ask the Vale council to see if it would cover the cost, at least £3,000.”

Road closures will be in place for the demolition on part of Milton Park and Purchas Road and there will be a 300-metre exclusion zone in place.

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She added: “We could open our festival field as a car park, but we would need a stewarding company to manage the event, and we would have to provide some portable toilets so we would ask the Vale council to see if it would cover the cost, at least £3,000.”...'

Modern jobsworths.

'...Earth Trust chief executive Jayne Manley said Wittenham Clumps would provide an excellent vantage point.
She added: “We could open our festival field as a car park, but we would need a stewarding company to manage the event, and we would have to provide some portable toilets so we would ask the Vale council to see if it would cover the cost, at least £3,000.”...'
Modern jobsworths.Quentin Walker

She added: “We could open our festival field as a car park, but we would need a stewarding company to manage the event, and we would have to provide some portable toilets so we would ask the Vale council to see if it would cover the cost, at least £3,000.”...'

Modern jobsworths.

Score: 6

StaceyHume
9:11am Fri 18 Jul 14

Well I do hope 1000s turn to spite this pathetic company and it's arrogance. Helath and Safety pull the other one, you've been dumping dust on the residents of Didcot and surrounding villages for nearly half a century and it wasn't a problem then..

As reported here on the online petition Guy Esnouf I assume PR spokesperson for RWE Npower responded with 'we are not encouraging people to come out in the middle of the night. We want them to watch from home where there is no risk'. Despite this Guy then mentioned that he'd invited his nephew to come along and watch!

Well I do hope 1000s turn to spite this pathetic company and it's arrogance. Helath and Safety pull the other one, you've been dumping dust on the residents of Didcot and surrounding villages for nearly half a century and it wasn't a problem then..
As reported here on the online petition Guy Esnouf I assume PR spokesperson for RWE Npower responded with 'we are not encouraging people to come out in the middle of the night. We want them to watch from home where there is no risk'. Despite this Guy then mentioned that he'd invited his nephew to come along and watch!
http://www.change.or
g/petitions/rwe-npow
er-delay-the-demolit
ion-of-didcot-power-
station-until-6amStaceyHume

Well I do hope 1000s turn to spite this pathetic company and it's arrogance. Helath and Safety pull the other one, you've been dumping dust on the residents of Didcot and surrounding villages for nearly half a century and it wasn't a problem then..

As reported here on the online petition Guy Esnouf I assume PR spokesperson for RWE Npower responded with 'we are not encouraging people to come out in the middle of the night. We want them to watch from home where there is no risk'. Despite this Guy then mentioned that he'd invited his nephew to come along and watch!

If they dont want people there,why dont they carry out the job,at a time unannounced ?

If they dont want people there,why dont they carry out the job,at a time unannounced ?Gone Fishing2

If they dont want people there,why dont they carry out the job,at a time unannounced ?

Score: 2

Lord Palmerstone
10:49am Fri 18 Jul 14

## Nonny Mouse ## wrote…

^exactly the attitudes they are afraid of and why they are being so conservative. Well done on vindicating them chaps, no really.

You're not Warren Beatty but you are exactly the person Carly Simon was singing about. Congratulations, but it's actually not about you and it never will be.

[quote][p][bold]## Nonny Mouse ##[/bold] wrote:
^exactly the attitudes they are afraid of and why they are being so conservative. Well done on vindicating them chaps, no really.[/p][/quote]You're not Warren Beatty but you are exactly the person Carly Simon was singing about. Congratulations, but it's actually not about you and it never will be.Lord Palmerstone

## Nonny Mouse ## wrote…

^exactly the attitudes they are afraid of and why they are being so conservative. Well done on vindicating them chaps, no really.

You're not Warren Beatty but you are exactly the person Carly Simon was singing about. Congratulations, but it's actually not about you and it never will be.

Score: 1

MCM245
12:48pm Fri 18 Jul 14

Won't it be noisy? How are they getting away with this when it's illegal even to sound a car horn at that hour?

Won't it be noisy? How are they getting away with this when it's illegal even to sound a car horn at that hour?MCM245

Won't it be noisy? How are they getting away with this when it's illegal even to sound a car horn at that hour?

Score: 10

The New Private Eye
2:23am Sat 19 Jul 14

E.ON UK has today (MON 25 SEPT) announced the date for the demolition of High Marnham Power Station’s boiler house.

The 150ft structure at High Marnham Power Station is to be demolished at 11am on Thursday 5th October by specialist contractors who have been carefully decommissioning the station for over two years.

Chris Clewes, Site Manager at High Marnham, said: “The boiler house is expected to come down in a matter of seconds in a controlled explosion carried out by a team of experts.”

And Retford’s own Julie Rogers will be pushing the button on the day following her win in a charity raffle that raised over £3,500 for the South Clifton & District Sports Association and the local air ambulance and saw thousands of locals trying to win the chance to demolish the station’s boiler house.

“We were approached about the raffle soon after the demolition began and it seemed to be a great way to put something back into the local community, at the same time as offering someone a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Chris.

“I’m delighted that the organisers have managed to raise so much money for two really worthwhile causes and we look forward to welcoming Julia to the site for demolition day.”

High Marnham Power Station was closed in 2003 following nearly 45 years of operation.

Ah well it seems that some power companies are more people friendly.

E.ON UK has today (MON 25 SEPT) announced the date for the demolition of High Marnham Power Station’s boiler house.
The 150ft structure at High Marnham Power Station is to be demolished at 11am on Thursday 5th October by specialist contractors who have been carefully decommissioning the station for over two years.
Chris Clewes, Site Manager at High Marnham, said: “The boiler house is expected to come down in a matter of seconds in a controlled explosion carried out by a team of experts.”
And Retford’s own Julie Rogers will be pushing the button on the day following her win in a charity raffle that raised over £3,500 for the South Clifton & District Sports Association and the local air ambulance and saw thousands of locals trying to win the chance to demolish the station’s boiler house.
“We were approached about the raffle soon after the demolition began and it seemed to be a great way to put something back into the local community, at the same time as offering someone a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Chris.
“I’m delighted that the organisers have managed to raise so much money for two really worthwhile causes and we look forward to welcoming Julia to the site for demolition day.”
High Marnham Power Station was closed in 2003 following nearly 45 years of operation.
Ah well it seems that some power companies are more people friendly.The New Private Eye

E.ON UK has today (MON 25 SEPT) announced the date for the demolition of High Marnham Power Station’s boiler house.

The 150ft structure at High Marnham Power Station is to be demolished at 11am on Thursday 5th October by specialist contractors who have been carefully decommissioning the station for over two years.

Chris Clewes, Site Manager at High Marnham, said: “The boiler house is expected to come down in a matter of seconds in a controlled explosion carried out by a team of experts.”

And Retford’s own Julie Rogers will be pushing the button on the day following her win in a charity raffle that raised over £3,500 for the South Clifton & District Sports Association and the local air ambulance and saw thousands of locals trying to win the chance to demolish the station’s boiler house.

“We were approached about the raffle soon after the demolition began and it seemed to be a great way to put something back into the local community, at the same time as offering someone a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Chris.

“I’m delighted that the organisers have managed to raise so much money for two really worthwhile causes and we look forward to welcoming Julia to the site for demolition day.”

High Marnham Power Station was closed in 2003 following nearly 45 years of operation.

Ah well it seems that some power companies are more people friendly.

Score: 7

TigerTigerBurningBright
10:20am Sat 19 Jul 14

It is obvious, isn't it.
The towers are chockablock full of nasty carcinogenic material and also they've chosen a cheap demolition company to save money, so there could be bits flying all over the place and much further than you'd expect with a proper demolition company.
Or something like that...

It is obvious, isn't it.
The towers are chockablock full of nasty carcinogenic material and also they've chosen a cheap demolition company to save money, so there could be bits flying all over the place and much further than you'd expect with a proper demolition company.
Or something like that...TigerTigerBurningBright

It is obvious, isn't it.
The towers are chockablock full of nasty carcinogenic material and also they've chosen a cheap demolition company to save money, so there could be bits flying all over the place and much further than you'd expect with a proper demolition company.
Or something like that...

Score: 4

Dilligaf2010
11:06am Sat 19 Jul 14

Well RWE Power, we don't want your electricity, so feck off ;-p

Well RWE Power, we don't want your electricity, so feck off ;-pDilligaf2010

Well RWE Power, we don't want your electricity, so feck off ;-p

Score: 5

Adrian1
1:50pm Mon 21 Jul 14

Hmmm,... so I could get covered in dust at my preffered viewing site 2 miles away but not if I stay at home living less than 1000 yards away,... that'll be some blast to loft that dust clear, what size crater are we leaving?
On a more sensible note I trust we will be advertising the ideal and preffered official viewing areas and the scheduled demolition time to the second shortly. I'm guessing that from the dust issue we won't be using a square kilometre gauze net or employing water spray towers but be praying for rain. I'm trusting the dust will simply be particulate of concrete and not legionella impregnated dust, PM10 buckyballs or asbestos - to wonder about but a few.

Hmmm,... so I could get covered in dust at my preffered viewing site 2 miles away but not if I stay at home living less than 1000 yards away,... that'll be some blast to loft that dust clear, what size crater are we leaving?
On a more sensible note I trust we will be advertising the ideal and preffered official viewing areas and the scheduled demolition time to the second shortly. I'm guessing that from the dust issue we won't be using a square kilometre gauze net or employing water spray towers but be praying for rain. I'm trusting the dust will simply be particulate of concrete and not legionella impregnated dust, PM10 buckyballs or asbestos - to wonder about but a few.Adrian1

Hmmm,... so I could get covered in dust at my preffered viewing site 2 miles away but not if I stay at home living less than 1000 yards away,... that'll be some blast to loft that dust clear, what size crater are we leaving?
On a more sensible note I trust we will be advertising the ideal and preffered official viewing areas and the scheduled demolition time to the second shortly. I'm guessing that from the dust issue we won't be using a square kilometre gauze net or employing water spray towers but be praying for rain. I'm trusting the dust will simply be particulate of concrete and not legionella impregnated dust, PM10 buckyballs or asbestos - to wonder about but a few.

Score: 4

EMBOX2
5:01pm Mon 21 Jul 14

The whole of Didcot A is heavy with asbestos, specialist contractors were brought in not that long ago to remove it.

God knows what other nasties lurk, or what has been spilled over the years....

The whole of Didcot A is heavy with asbestos, specialist contractors were brought in not that long ago to remove it.
God knows what other nasties lurk, or what has been spilled over the years....EMBOX2

The whole of Didcot A is heavy with asbestos, specialist contractors were brought in not that long ago to remove it.

God knows what other nasties lurk, or what has been spilled over the years....

Score: 2

the wizard
12:00am Wed 23 Jul 14

The New Private Eye wrote…

E.ON UK has today (MON 25 SEPT) announced the date for the demolition of High Marnham Power Station’s boiler house.

The 150ft structure at High Marnham Power Station is to be demolished at 11am on Thursday 5th October by specialist contractors who have been carefully decommissioning the station for over two years.

Chris Clewes, Site Manager at High Marnham, said: “The boiler house is expected to come down in a matter of seconds in a controlled explosion carried out by a team of experts.”

And Retford’s own Julie Rogers will be pushing the button on the day following her win in a charity raffle that raised over £3,500 for the South Clifton & District Sports Association and the local air ambulance and saw thousands of locals trying to win the chance to demolish the station’s boiler house.

“We were approached about the raffle soon after the demolition began and it seemed to be a great way to put something back into the local community, at the same time as offering someone a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Chris.

“I’m delighted that the organisers have managed to raise so much money for two really worthwhile causes and we look forward to welcoming Julia to the site for demolition day.”

High Marnham Power Station was closed in 2003 following nearly 45 years of operation.

Ah well it seems that some power companies are more people friendly.

Something of a coincidence there. Jo Haines who was Didcot A first station superintendent was the boss at High Marnham before taking the post at Didcot. He was known for keeping things on budget at that time and was very shrewd about how the station was run in its early days.

[quote][p][bold]The New Private Eye[/bold] wrote:
E.ON UK has today (MON 25 SEPT) announced the date for the demolition of High Marnham Power Station’s boiler house.
The 150ft structure at High Marnham Power Station is to be demolished at 11am on Thursday 5th October by specialist contractors who have been carefully decommissioning the station for over two years.
Chris Clewes, Site Manager at High Marnham, said: “The boiler house is expected to come down in a matter of seconds in a controlled explosion carried out by a team of experts.”
And Retford’s own Julie Rogers will be pushing the button on the day following her win in a charity raffle that raised over £3,500 for the South Clifton & District Sports Association and the local air ambulance and saw thousands of locals trying to win the chance to demolish the station’s boiler house.
“We were approached about the raffle soon after the demolition began and it seemed to be a great way to put something back into the local community, at the same time as offering someone a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Chris.
“I’m delighted that the organisers have managed to raise so much money for two really worthwhile causes and we look forward to welcoming Julia to the site for demolition day.”
High Marnham Power Station was closed in 2003 following nearly 45 years of operation.
Ah well it seems that some power companies are more people friendly.[/p][/quote]Something of a coincidence there. Jo Haines who was Didcot A first station superintendent was the boss at High Marnham before taking the post at Didcot. He was known for keeping things on budget at that time and was very shrewd about how the station was run in its early days.the wizard

The New Private Eye wrote…

E.ON UK has today (MON 25 SEPT) announced the date for the demolition of High Marnham Power Station’s boiler house.

The 150ft structure at High Marnham Power Station is to be demolished at 11am on Thursday 5th October by specialist contractors who have been carefully decommissioning the station for over two years.

Chris Clewes, Site Manager at High Marnham, said: “The boiler house is expected to come down in a matter of seconds in a controlled explosion carried out by a team of experts.”

And Retford’s own Julie Rogers will be pushing the button on the day following her win in a charity raffle that raised over £3,500 for the South Clifton & District Sports Association and the local air ambulance and saw thousands of locals trying to win the chance to demolish the station’s boiler house.

“We were approached about the raffle soon after the demolition began and it seemed to be a great way to put something back into the local community, at the same time as offering someone a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Chris.

“I’m delighted that the organisers have managed to raise so much money for two really worthwhile causes and we look forward to welcoming Julia to the site for demolition day.”

High Marnham Power Station was closed in 2003 following nearly 45 years of operation.

Ah well it seems that some power companies are more people friendly.

Something of a coincidence there. Jo Haines who was Didcot A first station superintendent was the boss at High Marnham before taking the post at Didcot. He was known for keeping things on budget at that time and was very shrewd about how the station was run in its early days.

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